Hamilton, Simon shine as Reds down Brewers

Cincinnati Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton stands on deck during a game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Great American Ball Park.(Photo: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports)

Reds manager Bryan Price was asked before Friday's game if the Reds would keep Alfredo Simon in the rotation for the rest of the season given that Simon is quickly approaching his career-high for innings.

Price said the Reds would. A couple of hours later, Simon showed why. He went 7 1/3 innings to beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-2 before a sellout crowd of 42,120 at Great American Ball Park.

Simon allowed six hits, walked two and struck out three to improve to 11-3. He tied for the National League lead in wins. It was his 15th quality start in the 17 outings this year.

"That was fun," he said. "I kept the ball down. I did what I do before. I try to win this game."

The Reds are 6-2 against the first-place Brewers this year. Friday's win moved the Reds to within six games of the Brewers -- as close as the Reds have been since May 24.

"There's a lot of reasons it was important to win," Price said. "No. 1, it would have been our fourth consecutive loss if we lose. No. 2, it would have put us eight games behind with only the opportunity to pick up a game over the next two. We don't want to get further back going into the All-Star Break and create a mountain.

Simon's inning total is up to 110 innings. His career-high is 115 2/3. The Reds don't have a set limit on Simon's innings because he's a special case.

"He's 32 years old," Price said. "He's been pitching a long time -- not only in the States, but in Winter Ball and the Mexican League. I think it's different than taking a kid out of college and letting him throw 220 innings.

"He's been our most durable relief pitcher over the last couple of years as far as how he bounces back. He's going to get the ball every fifth day as long as performs. . . At this point in time, I don't believe that's a concern."

Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips (4) helps turn a double play on the Milwaukee Brewers third baseman Aramis Ramirez (16) in the fourth inning at Great American Ball Park.
The Enquirer/Jeff Swinger

Cincinnati Reds third baseman Todd Frazier (21) reacts as he is tagged out in the seventh inning by the Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Scooter Gennett (2) at Great American Ball Park.
The Enquirer/Jeff Swinger

Cincinnati Reds third baseman Todd Frazier (21) reacts after a Skip Schumaker diving catch in the left field in the eighth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Great American Ball Park.
The Enquirer/Jeff Swinger

Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy (20) dives back to first base as the Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto (19) misses the ball on a pickoff attempt my starting pitcher Alfredo Simon (31) in the first inning at Great American Ball Park.
The Enquirer/Jeff Swinger

Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy (20) dives back to first base as the Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto (19) misses the ball on a pickoff attempt my starting pitcher Alfredo Simon (31) in the first inning at Great American Ball Park.
The Enquirer/Jeff Swinger

Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips (4) breaks up a double play against the Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Jean Segura (9) in the second inning at Great American Ball Park.
The Enquirer/Jeff Swinger

The Reds celebrated the 4th of July by rediscovering the pop in their bats. The big blow was a two-run home run by Billy Hamilton. Four different Reds doubled on the night.

Simon lined a single into left with one out in the third. Hamilton hit the next pitch out to right. It landed atop the visitors' bullpen for Hamilton's fifth of the year. The most home runs Hamilton hit in the minors was six. That came last year at Louisville in 504 at-bats. His fifth this year came in his 292nd at-bat.

"I'm not surprised," Hamilton said. "Sometimes, you run into one. Not that I'm trying to. It was great. It came at great time. Two good pitchers were going at it. You get Simon two runs and he's good."

Said Price: "It was terrific. He took advantage of one of the few mistakes Kyle Lohse made tonight."

The Reds added a run in the fourth. Devin Mesoraco led off with a shot to left center. Center fielder Carlos Gomez leaped to keep it in the park, but it went off his glove for a double. Skip Schumaker followed with a double to make it 3-0.

The Reds added another in the fifth. Todd Frazier reached on first baseman Lyle Overbay's error. Joey Votto followed with a shot into the left field corner -- Vintage Votto in the other words -- to get Frazier home and make it 4-0.

Simon left a runner at second in the first and second.

He got in real trouble in the third. Scooter Gennett singled with out out. Simon walked Ryan Braun after getting ahead 0-2. Jonathan Lucroy followed with a shot to right that Jay Bruce ran down. Gennett took third on the play. Simon then got Gomez to bounce out to leave the runners on.

Once the Reds got the lead, Simon cruised. He faced the minimum in the fourth through the sixth, thanks to a great play by Hamilton. Braun led off the sixth with a bolt toward the right-center gap. Hamilton made a long run and caught it with a leap. He crashed into the wall but held on.

The Brewers broke through in the seventh. Simon hit Aramis Ramirez with a pitch to start the innings. Ramirez went to second on a wild pitch. Overbay singled to right. Jean Segura got Ramirez in with an infield hit to make it 4-1.

Simon got out of it from there. Logan Schafer took a called third strike, inch-hitter Rickie Weeks hit into a fielder's choice and Gennett flied to shallow right.

Simon gave up a home run to Lucroy in the eighth. Jonathan Broxton took over and got the final two outs of the eighth. Aroldis Chapman pitched the ninth for his 17th.